The Butthole Surfers started off by performing shows that involved naked people with sideways mohawks, two identical androgynous drummers, barely controlled fires, disturbing film reel projections, and various other acts while Gibby Haynes shouted through a megaphone about Elvis’s toenails to chopped up classic rock. It’s the typical act that is witnessed only by Butthole Surfer fans or people who were tortured under MK Ultra experiments. How the hell you channel all that into sellable records is no easy task. The end result is something that is probably not enjoyable for people who have things like “families” or “stable careers.” Since we are unemployable and our family disowned us years ago we decided to rank every Butthole Surfers albums, so dig in.
8. Weird Revolution (2001)
Bands rarely get to leave on a high note and Weird Revolution is sadly another example. There are some good tracks but overall it feels way too easy for radio play. The biggest song on here, “The Shame of Life,” (written in collaboration with uh… Kid Rock) belongs in a sleazy nightclub run by a guy who brags about his investments in Crypto. “Dracula From Houston” meanwhile feels like it was written by Smash Mouth. At the same time however, this is a band where nothing feels too drastic a choice.
Play it again: “Last Astronaut”
Skip it: “Dracula From Houston”
7. Piouhgd (1991)
This is the first album to contain only one drummer which sadly brings them too close to becoming a normal band. Still, if any other band had produced this album, people would have that band either honored or given medication. “Revolution Part 2” ends with a hypnotic chant of the name Garry Shandling. It can only be assumed that Garry struck a deal with the Surfers to seep his name into the subconscious of America in order to get “The Larry Sanders Show” picked up.
Play it again: “Revolution Part 1 + 2”
Skip it: “Lonesome Bulldog”
6. Electriclarryland (1996)
If Gibby Haynes has a sister-in-law, it would be fascinating to hear her thoughts on the track “My Brother’s Wife.’ Their biggest single, “Pepper,” shows that the Anus Skaters know how to write a good normal song if they want to. A much easier to digest record than previous ones which is good or bad depending on who’s listening. Despite being their most commercial record at the moment, it doesn’t stop them from including four minutes of French people talking about cars.
Play it again: “The Lord Is a Monkey”
Skip it: “TV Star”
5. Independent Worm Saloon (1993)
This one’s still got plenty of Butthole Surfers energy but the songs have less genre jumping and tape sampling. “Tongue” has the classic distorted Hippie vibe of previous albums. Lots of good sludge metal vibes throughout. Worst thing about the album is that there’s seventeen songs so after a while it’s harder for some tracks to stand out. The album is produced by Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, possibly because he wanted to prevent any more titles like “Hairway To Steven.”
Play it again: “Wooden Song”
Skip it: “Leave Me Alone”
4. Psychic… Powerless… Another Man’s Sac (1984)
Their first official album starts the record with enough psychotic noises for turning off anyone who might be expecting another “Pepper” track. “Another Man’s Sac” jumps from noise to psychedelic to punk to country so fast that you are either on board or you’re not. “Lady Sniff” uses sound effects in a musical manner that can only be compared to Weird Al’s “Smells Like Nirvana.” Only 35 minutes long so never has a moment to get stale.
Play it again: “Dum Dum”
Skip it: “Eye Of The Chicken” ain’t bad but might scare away some people.
3. Rembrandt Pussyhorse (1986)
Nearly every track on “Rembrandt Pussyhorse” creeps in the mind like a haunting entity luring you to die of dehydration in the middle of the desert. The band treats the song “American Woman” like their fellow Texan alumni Leatherface by cutting it up and wearing its skin poorly over their own. The album comes attached with the EP “Cream Corn From The Socket of Davis” which includes the must-hear track “To Parter.”
Play it again: “Hall of Whirling Knives”
Skip it: Skip to your local desert to get lost and have the haunting entity dehydrate you with mirages.
2. Hairway to Steven (1988)
The second “Jimi” starts playing with headphones, it allows the dual drums to play tug of war with your eardrums like two dogs fighting over a steak. Some great occasional rockabilly vibes in Paul Leary’s psychedelic guitars and Gibby’s rambling nonsense works perfectly. Very few bands can make a song called “I Saw An X-ray Of A Girl Passing Gas” sound so beautiful. The best way to listen to this is while having a staring contest with the album cover.
Play it again: “Jimi”
Skip it: none
1. Locust Abortion Technician (1987)
Many burnouts in a Dunkin Donuts parking lot will claim this is the peak of Butthole Surfers. It’s hard to argue against this when the album kicks off with a maniacal regurgitated cover of Black Sabbath’s “Sweet Leaf” known as “Sweat Loaf.” Daniel Johnston had such a reaction to that song he regurgitated the regurgitated version with “Sweat Loafed.” The album is riddled with heavy doom and speed perfect for blasting while your enemies are experiencing a panic attack.
Play it again: “Human Cannonball”
Skip it: if you haven’t heard “Sweat Loaf,” skip it and instead listen to only the Sabbath version and the Daniel Johnston version then use your imagination to figure out what the Buttholes possibly created in between those two.